The penguins have moved on, but their summer visit to the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores will have a lasting impact.
Thanks to the generosity of visitors who stopped by the Penguin Plunge
exhibit, the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is donating $5,000 to support
conservation of African penguins.
The temporary exhibit featured four captive-bred African penguins from
May through September. During that time, the aquarium provided a
donation box for voluntary contributions.
The donated funds will be split between two non-profit conservation
groups: the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal
Birds and the African Penguin Species Survival Plan under the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums, according to an aquarium news
release.
“More than a quarter of a million visitors to the North Carolina
Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores this summer had a chance to meet the
penguins and learn their conservation story,” Aquarium Director Allen
Monroe said via the release. “Many of the factors of human influence
that affect penguins also impact wildlife on our shores.”
African penguins are an endangered species. According to the news
release, they numbered in the millions as recently as the early 1900s,
but there are currently only about 50,000 African penguins left in the
world. Habitat destruction, collection of eggs for human consumption,
commercial overharvesting of their food and oil spills are said to be
some of the reasons behind this rapid decline.
A scene containing a frenzy of plumage and bubbles as emperor penguins prepare to blast their way through a hole in the ice has earned Paul Nicklen one of the world's top photo awards.
The Canadian braved the extreme cold of Antarctica and attack by leopard seals to get the shot.
His picture won the Underwater Worlds category and the overall title in this year's Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
It is called "Bubble Jetting Emperors".
"The emperors are returning from the open ocean," explained Nicklen.
"They've been at sea for three weeks, their bellies are full of food, and they're bringing it back for their chicks. They're about to rocket out on to the ice," the National Geographic Magazine photographer told BBC News.
"I was just snorkelling with my legs locked under the ice, and they would be all over me - on my hand, on my back. Amazing." Speed kings
The emperors have to run the gauntlet of leopard seals who will try to grab and eat the birds as they exit the water. But the penguins have evolved a very clever strategy to evade capture.
First, they surface to survey the danger, but as they do so they trap as much air into their plumage as they can manage. Then they dive and, from deep down, they shoot for the edge of the ice, squeezing their feathers as they rise.
This expels millions of small bubbles. The "coat of air" reduces drag and accelerates the animal upwards and beyond the marauding seals.
"The science shows they can double or even triple their speed. They can go from 10km/h to 30km/h as they come rocketing up," Nicklen said.
The photographer fired off more than 50,000 frames over the course of a three-week period in the Ross Sea, near Cape Washington.
An adventurous journey into the
difficult process of becoming an adult King penguin in one of the most
hazardous lands on the face of the Planet: South Georgia.
The Penguin King 3D is a truly
fascinating documentary, majestically narrated by the world’s most
famous natural history broadcaster, David Attenborough, – who’s also on
the production team alongside filmmaker Anthony Geffen – and whose vivid
narrative voice perfectly embodies the intensity of the story depicted.
Following one Bachelor King penguin’s
adventures after his returning to Penguin City, astonishing 3D
technology takes us right into the middle of the scene, giving us the
chance to have an insider’s perspective into the Bachelor King’s highs
and lows, his partying at sea, his struggle to find a mate with whom to
share the most exciting adventure ever: breeding.
From adolescent clumsiness to triumphant
adulthood, we observe him grow in a life-threatening environment,
facing daily obstacles from fearful predators such as killer whales and
leopard seals, to the troubles of getting his chick safely through his
first year.
The
most interesting aspect of the film is the anthropomorphisation of the
penguin itself, which is not a humanisation process, though, and the two
must not be confused. As Attenborough points out: “It is wrong to give
animals human names and attribute subjective feelings to them. But it is
also absurd to think that they are machines and we have nothing in
common with them. […] You have to strike a line which neither
anthropomorphizes, nor becomes so scientifically objective that it has
no emotional impact.” And herein lies the major characteristic of the
Penguin King: the penguin’s journey is going to resonate for humans, but
he will remain a penguin nevertheless.
The Penguin King 3D is an
extraordinary window on one of the most fascinating creatures on Earth,
dramatically caught in his natural habitat, the most isolated
archipelago in the Southern Ocean.
The already BAFTA-winning duo
Attenborough and Geffen (Flying Monsters) succeeds once again in
striking us with the immediacy of life, heightened by wonderful 3D.
Verdict: •••
Eleonora Ricotta
The Penguin King 3D is released on Wednesday 24th
October, also featuring an exclusive Q&A with David Attenborough
streamed live via satellite across participating cinemas in UK from
Fulham Broadway Vue.
Keepers were distraught when 15 birds became seriously ill with malaria and a respiratory bug before dying
Tragedy: Penguins at Paradise Wildlife Park
A colony of endangered zoo penguins has almost been wiped out after it was hit by two deadly diseases.
Keepers
were distraught when 15 birds became seriously ill with malaria and a
respiratory bug before dying at Paradise Wildlife Park.
The tragedy comes just days after its famous tiger Indy and snow leopard Aron passed away.
It also follows an announcement by London zoo last week that six of its penguins had died from malaria.
Lynn
Whitnall, director of Paradise Wildlife Park, said: “It’s very sad but
these things do happen quite frequently with penguins unfortunately.
"They
are quite nervous animals and don’t like to live in small groups so
when one was struck, it seemed the rest all started to worry and panic.
“Although
we do medicate against disease, there was nothing that could be done.
We are now keeping our remaining five penguins secluded.”
The colony at Paradise in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, is mostly made up of endangered African Jackasses. Scene; Paradise Wildlife Park
At least one contracted avian malaria over the summer. The others died from aspergillosis disease, a respiratory infection.
A
team of scientists and vets have been brought in to investigate ahead
of the park importing a fresh batch of penguins from a zoo in Holland.
Bosses have now had to scrap the £99 penguin paradise experience.
Linda
Cole, 49, who booked the treat for her 50th birthday next month, said:
“The zoo did kindly offer to swap my voucher for the Tickle a Tapir day
out or a Meet the Meerkats, but it was only penguins I wanted to see.
"Naturally I feel terrible for the poor penguins.”
Paradise, described as the country’s “most interactive zoo”, has more than 400 animals.
Indy the tiger was put down after a tumour was found. Aron developed a bad swelling on his leg.
The six penguins at London Zoo died in August. Avian malaria cannot be passed on to humans.
More than five hundred people participated in Saturday’s Sixth Annual
Run for the Penguins 5k race and fun walk at the Mystic Aquarium
Two penguins with assistant trainers. Credit: Mark Barile
Female Winner Kate Klim of Boston, Mass. Credit: Mark Barile
Penguins Credit: Mark Barile
By Mark Barile
On a crisp, cool, sunny October morning more than five hundred people
participated in the 6th Annual Run for the Penguins 5k race and fun
walk at the Mystic Aquarium.
A two-mile walk kicked off the day, followed by a highly competitive
5k road, trail, and field run. Finally, there was a kids race to cap
off the event.
The top male and female runners of the 5k received awards, as well as the top three winners in each age division.
Spy Barres, of Mystic, Conn. won the 5k in a time of 17:51. The top
female finisher was Kate Klim, of Boston, Mass. who ran a 19:35 time.
There were also awards for the top middle school cross-country teams
that participated in the race. The awards consisted of ceramic tiles that the penguins themselves painted, and the top runners had their picture taken with a penguin and penguin assistant from the Mystic Aquarium.
Following the race there was food, drinks, door prizes, and free
admission to the aquarium for all participating runners. Inside the
aquarium, there was an actual penguin race, in which twelve penguins
competed in four heats to determine the fastest penguin at the Mystic
Aquarium. With the success of today’s race, and those in previous years,
the Aquarium is certainly doing its best to raise funds to help protect
and increase knowledge of these wonderfully charming creatures.
Giant pandas grounded by work on penguin enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo
The Pandas can still be seen in the indoor enclosure. Picture: Ian Rutherford
By BRIAN FERGUSON
Published on Monday 15 October 2012
THE two giant pandas at Edinburgh Zoo have been “grounded” due to building work on a neighbouring penguin enclosure. The animals are said to have reacted badly to the noise and vibrations coming from staff working on the new £750,000 enclosure.
Their
temporary house arrest, is likely to remain in force until the end of
the year, which means visitors to the zoo are unable to see the pandas
in their large separate outdoor enclosures.
Experts handling the
animals say the “particularly sensitive” nature of the pandas led to the
decision, but have pointed out visitors are still able to see them in
the indoor section of their enclosures.
Popular penguin parades at
the zoo were suspended suddenly in March and dozens of the animals sent
to other zoos around Europe while a serious leak at the 60-year-old
pool was investigated.
The zoo was forced to mount a major
campaign in July to help pay for the new enclosure – which will feature
diving boards, water slides and a beach – after investigations into a
leak at the old site found much more serious structural problems.
The
resident 160-bird colony of king, rockhopper and gentoo penguins had to
bedispersed, although about a third of them are leaving the zoo’s
collection permanently. The zoo, which is still running its
campaign to raise £100,000 from public donations, has not set a
completion date for the work on the penguin enclosure, although it has
previously said it hoped the new facility would open “early next year.”
This is not the first time that the close proximity of the penguin enclosure to the two panda ones has caused problems. Within
weeks of the star attractions from China being unveiled last December
it emerged that visitors to see the pandas were being hit by droppings
from jealous penguins.
The latest problem has emerged just weeks
after the zoo came under fire for charging £1,000 for exclusive
“panda-keeper” experiences with Tian Tian and Yang Guang in a private
area of the enclosures, normally screened off to the public.
One
member of staff, who asked not to be named, told The Scotsman, said:
“The work on the pool was supposed to be fairly straightforward and only
take a few months after an initial five-week draining period. It
was actually due to reopen in the summer after some essential repairs,
but it turned out a whole new penguin enclosure was needed. No-one could
have forseen this when the pandas arrived in December.”
Iain
Valentine, director of research and conservation at the zoo, added: “Our
two giant pandas are sensitive to noise and vibrations – they are a
particularly sensitive species – which is why work is being carried out
on the penguin enclosure in stages. Whilst the heavier work takes place
the pandas remain in the indoor viewing areas. “Work on the
penguin enclosure was timed to take place after the busy summer season
and prior to breeding season for both species – as a charity this was
the most practical and sensible solution after a costly leak was
discovered in the penguin pool earlier this year. We are also
mindful that the repair work must last for many years to come, so as the
full extent of the leak was discovered we put in place the best
solution to tackle it.”
An endangered Humboldt penguin was born at the Akron Zoo
July 8. The chick, a male, has been named Pedro, which means rock in
Spanish. Pedro has been in a burrow since he was born but is now
emerging and coming out onto exhibit at the zoo's Penguin Point.
Pedro's
name is significant because penguins build their nests out of rocks.
Pedro is still not able to eat on his own so his parents are still
feeding him. The parents are fed four times a day, twice as much as the
other penguins at the Akron Zoo. They are fed two varieties of fish,
which include capelin and smelt. The parents feed the penguin chicks by
eating first and then regurgitating the food into the chick's mouth.
Pedro should start eating on his own in a couple of weeks.
This is the second penguin chick born at the Akron Zoo this year. On April 8, Antia was born at the Akron Zoo.
Humboldt
penguins are warm climate penguins, unlike their Antarctic relatives.
They are commonly found in more temperate climates like Peru and Chile.
The Humboldt penguin is currently an endangered species primarily due to
commercial harvesting of guano for agricultural fertilizer.
Without
nesting locations, Humboldt penguins are in serious danger of
extinction. Some estimates indicate the possibility of extinction in the
wild within 10 years. The Akron Zoo is proud to have these penguins as
part of the Humboldt Penguin Species Survival Plan (SSP). The mission of
the SSP is to help ensure the survival of selected wildlife species.
Through scientifically-controlled managed breeding programs, SSP's are a
proactive approach to preventing extinction. SSP's were formed back in
1981 to help ensure the survival of endangered species. SSP's are
managed by the AZA, of which the Akron Zoo is an accredited member.
The
Akron Zoo is open 361 days a year. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and
admission is $10 for adults, $8.50 for senior citizens, $7 for children
(ages 2 through 14). Children under two are free and parking is $2. For
more information visit www.akronzoo.org or call 330-375-2550.
The Pandas can still be seen in the indoor enclosure. Picture: Ian Rutherford
